Judge orders Clark to surrender by noon on Tuesday

A federal judge has denied former Lighthouse Inn owner Maureen Clark's motion to remain free while appealing her investment fraud conviction and ordered her to report to the Bureau of Prisons by no later than noon today.

A federal jury in July 2012 found the 58-year-old Stonington resident guilty of 20 felony crimes, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering.

Judge Warren W. Eginton sentenced Clark to 87 months in prison in March and ordered her to repay the victims. While the case was pending, Clark has been free on a $600,000 surety bond and has been monitored by a federal probation officer. She was initially due to report to prison in April but received a 60-day extension to get her personal and financial affairs in order.

She was again due to report to prison last month but New Haven attorney Todd Bussert filed a motion to allow Clark to remain free while her appeal is pending. Eginton continued the surrender date and held a hearing on the motion. On July 9, he denied the motion and ordered Clark to report to prison no later than noontime on July 16.

According to the government, Clark and her business partner, Christopher Plummer, defrauded investors of $1.7 million in a resort investment scheme in Mississippi and spent the money on the failing Lighthouse Inn in New London and on themselves. Plummer pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and is serving a 51-month prison sentence.

k.florin@theday.com

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